How to Choose the Right Implementation Partner

Choosing your SAP SuccessFactors implementation partner can be a challenging process. Therefore, it is crucial that you ask the right questions to ensure that you end up with the right partner for you. You don’t want to end up with a pineapple when you in reality wanted a plum.

To help you successfully navigate your journey to the cloud, we have created an extensive guide that outlines the most important questions you need to be asking yourself when choosing your partner.

How do I choose the right partner?

As with any partnership organization, there are different levels of service you can select to optimize your partnership. Are you looking for someone to implement an existing process, or are you looking for someone to come in and design new processes with you? Do you need a SuccessFactors implementation partner that can help your organization be ready for the next big change, or would you prefer a partner that will keep you on track for existing goals within existing frameworks?

It’s a marathon, not a sprint

Looking to the future, how would you like your organization to be supported? Would you best thrive with a constant level of support, or is your organization in a position where you’ll be looking for continuous upgrades and improvements to your systems and processes?

Looking for a rock star?

When considering your SuccessFactors implementation partner, which area is most key for your organization? Do you need help with integration? Are you looking for a rock star in analytics? Identify and target your weak spots to ensure that your future partner is an expert in whichever area you require the most support.

Does size matter?

Sometimes size matters, sometimes it doesn’t. What size is your company, and what size is the consulting organization? If you are a medium-sized company and your consulting organization is large, will your business be a priority? Will there be enough executive presence to escalate when things don’t go exactly as planned? Will you have a relationship with the executives of your partner organization? On the other hand, if your company is large, you might have needs that a smaller consulting firm won’t be able to support. No matter the situation, find a match that works for you. More importantly, is company culture and whether there is a good fit between your company working culture and the partner company model they are offering you. Effective People work in agile, effective project teams that deliver fast value – without rushing through.

Cloud Implementations have changed demographics

In the past, candidates were limited by geographic location; an implementation partner had to be close enough to an organization to be on-site for work, a factor that can balloon expenses with travel budgets and also eliminates many talented potential partners merely due to zip code. Luckily, cloud implementations now allow us to search for and hire the right person for the job no matter where that person (or that job) might be. Thanks to cloud technologies, you’ll get the best fit every time, no matter where your business is. Make sure there is a good cultural fit and the communication skills are up to par. Effective People has a diverse employee base, several hubs as well a local presence in a dozen countries.

Look for recognized partners

References tell you much more about a candidate’s fit than a written resumé. When reviewing references, consider the following. Are the partner’s references speaking to the SuccessFactors modules that you intend to take advantage of? Are these references from clients who worked with the partner on-premise or via the cloud? It is always a good idea to speak with a reference. A happy former client should be able to give you some of their valuable time as you vet potential partners. Remember to prepare your questions carefully for a reference call. Make sure you’re asking the things that will help you get to the heart of the partner’s skills and experiences.

What happens after go-live?

The most important thing to remember when selecting your SuccessFactors partner is that you are looking at the long-term future of your organization. Considering all of these factors in aggregate can prevent you from making costly decisions in the short term, and help you build the most robust system that will stand the test of time. Therefore, take the time to plan carefully and set realistic timelines for crafting the strongest, most robust infrastructure. Effective People recognizes this and will be able to guide you in the long run as well as support you in conjunction with what SAP Support delivers to you. With Effective People as your implementation partner, you get more than just a technical implementation. You get dedication, experience, and recognized expertise.